6 Best Things to Do in Lassen Volcanic National Park
Located in heart of Northern California, Lassen Volcanic National Park is a geologically active area known for its steaming fumaroles, boiling springs, and the beautiful Lassen Peak at the center of it all—the southernmost peak in the 700-mile (1,127 km) Cascade Mountain Range, and the largest plug dome volcano in the world!
All these things are what inevitably make Lassen Volcanic feel like a hidden gem among a host of other, more popular California National Parks, like Yosemite, Sequoia, or even the nearby Redwoods.
For this reason, Lassen Volcanic National Park is one of my favorites, and if you visit during the beautiful summer or fall season when Highway 89 is snow-free—the main road through the park—you’ll be able to see and experience some of the best that Lassen Volcanic has to offer!
Hiking Checklist - Lassen Volcanic
Obviously, for camping, you will need general backpacking gear. For this reason, I wrote a separate post about what backpacking gear is worth the money, from my experience, and what the best alternatives are to save you money.
Read My Separate Post: Best Ultralight Backpacking Gear
In addition, here is a complete list of must-have things that you will want for any hike in Lassen Volcanic National Park.
That said, bear spray is purposefully excluded from this list because, while the park is home to Black Bears, bear spray is not allowed in Lassen Volcanic National Park.
6 Best Things to Do in Lassen Volcanic National Park
The following list is written in no particular order of best or worst, but know that if Lassen Peak Highway hasn’t opened for the season because of snow, visiting the park can be particularly challenging, as many of the best things to see and do are off this scenic drive.
On a different note, you can save time when you arrive by purchasing your National Park pass, along with your other outdoor gear, at REI before traveling to the park!
1. Lassen Peak Trail
Distance: 5.0 miles / 8.0 km
Elevation Gain: 1,960 ft. / 597 m
The Lassen Peak Trail is a beautiful and, honestly, fairly moderate day hike that climbs to the summit of Lassen Peak at over 10,000 ft. (3,048 m) tall!
That said, climbing Lassen Peak is without a doubt one of the best things to do in Lassen Volcanic National Park—that is, if you’re up for the 43 switchbacks that ascend nearly 2,000 ft. (610 m) from the trailhead off the uppermost portions of Lassen Peak Highway to the summit.
Considering this, some may find the near-constant ascent up Lassen Peak to be quite challenging. However, for those up to the challenge, know that Lassen Peak is easily the best sunrise and sunset hike in Lassen Volcanic National Park, as the summit stands high above the surrounding landscape as the southernmost Cascade in the range!
Read My Separate Post: Lassen Peak Trail
2. Cinder Cone Trail (Painted Dunes)
Distance: 3.2 - 4.8 miles / 5.1 - 7.7 km
The Cinder Cone Trail in the Butte Lake District of Lassen Volcanic National Park is one of the most fun and beautiful day hikes in the entire park, because hikers get the unique opportunity to not only summit and hike to the bottom of the Cinder Cone, but also see the colorful natural lava beds known as the Painted Dunes!
If you’re interested in photographing the vibrant colors of the Painted Dunes, I recommend the Cinder Cone Trail for sunrise, as the soft morning light brings out the best of the colors during this time!
In any case, the Cinder Cone Trail is a great place to explore the beautiful volcanic landscape that spans much of Lassen Volcanic, but that’s not to say that climbing Cinder Cone itself is less challenging than you might think.
This is why I highly recommend checking out all the details in my separate post, as hikers interested in climbing to the top will need to ascend one of two very steep routes to reach the best panoramic views atop the Cinder Cone.
Read My Separate Post: Cinder Cone Trail
My Print - Cinder Cone Trail (Painted Dunes)
3. Summit Lake (Sunset)
Summit Lake is one of many beautiful alpine lakes within Lassen Volcanic, but what truly makes the lake stand out from the rest is how beautiful Lassen Peak gets when the sunset lights it up during the late evening hours.
On top of this, Summit Lake is commonly known for being one of the best and most beautiful drive-up campgrounds within the park.
Therefore, if you’re interested in camping, you can make reservations directly through Recreation.gov below, or by clicking the link.
Book Here: Lassen Volcanic Permits
No information is collected by this website when using the Recreation.gov booking widget, and all reservations made here are secure through the official website.
4. Brokeoff Mountain Trail
Distance: 7.4 miles / 11.9 km
Elevation Gain: 2,580 ft. (786 m)
The Brokeoff Mountain Trail is a beautiful, longer adventure in Lassen Volcanic, but in my opinion, it’s one of the most underrated trails in the park!
I believe this because Brokeoff Mountain is located on the west side of Lassen Peak, which makes the panoramic viewpoint at the summit the best day hike in the park to catch sunset and the golden light setting at the highest elevations!
However, it is quite a long adventure, at roughly 3.7 miles (6.0 km) each way, which is why I recommend checking out my separate post linked below to decide what time of day Brokeoff Mountain sounds best for you and your group.
Read My Separate Post: Brokeoff Mountain Trail
5. Sulphur Works
To me, the Sulphur Works shares a striking resemblance to the thermal features within Yellowstone National Park, but be that as it may, it’s one of the best and most accessible places in Lassen Volcanic to learn about this ever-changing, active volcanic landscape.
Therefore, I highly recommend making the quick and easy stop at this little pullover off the Scenic Byway, as it’s truly one of the more unique features within the park.
Google Maps Directions: Sulphur Works
6. Prospect Peak Trail
Distance: 7.4 miles / 11.9 km
Elevation Gain: 2,230 ft. (680 m)
The Prospect Peak Trail is a true off-the-beaten-path adventure in Lassen Volcanic National Park, meaning it’s one of the least-trafficked trails there is across the entire park!
That said, Prospect Peak is a great alternative to some of the more popular day hikes in Lassen—especially for those who don’t mind being the only ones on the trail.
To learn more about Prospect Peak, I highly recommend checking out my separate post, as most who hike the trail miss the true summit at the very end, since it’s not as obvious as simply following the main trail to the top.
Read My Separate Post: Prospect Peak Trail
Additional Early Season Gear
Depending on the winter snowpack, trails can be covered in snow into the middle of June or even July.
For this reason, micro-spikes are a must on many trails, as conditions can be particularly hazardous if the snow is melting during the day and freezing at night.
Therefore, I recommend coming prepared, as many hikers miss out on trails that they could have done simply for this reason alone. I personally use the Yaktrax below.
